What does love look like? I see it when Jesus led His disciples into a storm. That storm revealed their vulnerability, but it also revealed that Jesus was the Lord of the storm. Fear was replaced by faith in the presence of the Prince of Peace. This is a place where I see Jesus’s love.
What motivated Jesus to go to the other side of the lake? On the other side there was a man who lived in the tombs. He was possessed with the one whose goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. He was empowered by the strength of evil darkness and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Although they had tried many times to restrain him with both shackles and chains, the results were always the same. He snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. So they, his family and those who knew him, left him to live among the dead. But what does love look like? It looks like Jesus getting into the boat after spending the day teaching about the kingdom of heaven in order to release a man who was experiencing a living hell.
The disciples had just encountered Jesus’ power over a storm at sea that had threaten their lives. But as soon as they stepped ashore they were met by a man who had a storm raging within him. His naked body was bloody and bruised from where he had gashed himself with stones. He had mutilated himself trying to match or release the emotional pain that he felt by inflicting physical pain. Now this creature ran to Jesus and fell at His feet shrieking with an ungodly voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God, don’t torment me” (Mark 5:7)! Jesus hadn’t come to torment the man but to set him free from the tormentor.
Jesus began His ministry with these words, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:14)! In the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of lords a legion of demons had to flee. Jesus gave them permission to enter pigs, and that day 2,000 pigs rushed down a steep bank and drowned there. But the man those demons had tormented for so long at last knew peace. When those whom he had terrified came and found him quieted, clothed, and in his right mind, they were filled with dread. They looked at Jesus, at whose feet the man was sitting, and realized something even stronger than evil darkness was in their midst. They begged Him to leave! And so He did.
“As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He would not let him...” (Mark 5:18-19). This man knew Jesus better than His disciples did. His disciples had called Him teacher and wondered at His ability to silence the storm. The demons within this man had known and acknowledged Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. Jesus had come to him with gracious love and had released him from darkness. Now the Savior showed His love for this man and his family by sending him back to his people to tell them about His mercy. That’s what love looks like!
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